Welkom is second largest town in the Free State

Welkom is South Africas youngest town and has been the centre of the gold fields since 1947. Welkom sprung up after gold was discovered on a farm called St Helena. Welkom is the second largest town in the Free State.

Regarded as the ‘heartbeat’ of the Free State Goldfields, the young city of Welkom is an industrial giant. Aside from the many interesting sights and attractions Welkom has to offer, the town is regarded as an ‘advanced planning’ phenomenon worldwide. The city was planned by the then Anglo American chairman, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, and the residential, mining and industrial areas are harmoniously blended with spacious, green, landscaped parks to form the beautiful ‘Garden City’. The silhouette of mine towers shimmering across evaporation dams and pans, produces a different kind of beauty: one of fortunes and power, evoking images of hardship and heroism. While expecting al this, you will have little doubt that you are at the centre of the Free State Goldfields, where one third of South Africa’s gold is produced.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Johannesburg 258 km, Bloemfontein 153 km, Durban 564 km, Virginia 19 km, Kroonstad 71 km

HISTORICAL VIEW

Aandenk Monument

Afrikaans Language Monument

Dog Monument

Gold Museum – History of gold mining. At the Public Library

Joanne Pim Monument

MOTH Memorial

Museum of Welkom

Exhibits depict the history of Welkom. Displays on the bird and animal life of the region.

Voortrekker Memorial

Second World War Monument

NATURE

Flamingo Pan – Beautiful recreation area. The pan is home to thousands of flamingoes.

Theronia Pan – Bird Sanctuary

ATTRACTIONS

Arts & Crafts

Handicapped residents of the Ernest Oppenheimer Hospital display and sell their work

Ernest Oppenheimer Theatre

Klippan Farm Park

Opportunity for children to view and feed a variety of farm animals

Mine Tours - Visit some of the deepest and richest gold mines in the world

North Park Fleamarket - Second Saturday of each month

Old Indaba Bluegum Tree

Parks

Central Park - Beautiful lawns, picnic sites and braai facilities

Peter Pan Park - A roller skating arena is the main attractions

Van Riebeeck Park - Most of Welkom’s monuments are found here

West Park

Braai facilities

Phakisa Freeway

Racetrack. Venue for the international 500cc Motocycle Grand Prix

Toronto Recreation Centre – Recreation centre for children

Underground Wine Cellar

The cellar, located at a depth of 857 m at the St Helena mine, is the deepest wine cellar in the world

Accommodation in and around Rooi Els